Solicitors for Selling a House in Reading

Selling a house involves its own paperwork and its own pressure points, particularly if you are also buying and juggling a chain. Our house sale solicitors in Reading handle the legal side efficiently and keep you properly informed, so you can focus on the move itself rather than the process behind it.

What does a solicitor do when you sell a house?

A solicitor acting for a seller prepares the draft contract, handles enquiries raised by the buyer’s solicitor, deals with redeeming your existing mortgage (if applicable), and manages exchange of contracts and completion, including paying off your mortgage and estate agent from the sale proceeds.

Your solicitor’s job is to keep the sale moving while protecting your position, particularly around the accuracy of the information you provide, since a buyer is entitled to rely on your answers in the Property Information Forms.

The house selling process step by step

Once you have accepted an offer, the legal process on your side runs roughly as follows.

1. Instructing your solicitor and completing forms: We ask you to complete the Property Information Form (TA6), the Fittings and Contents Form (TA10), and, for leasehold property, the Leasehold Information Form (TA7).
2. Draft contract: We prepare the draft contract package and send it, along with your completed forms, to the buyer’s solicitor.
3. Answering enquiries: We deal with any enquiries the buyer’s solicitor raises on your behalf, chasing you promptly for anything only you can answer.
4. Exchange of contracts: Once everyone is ready, contracts are exchanged and a completion date is fixed. From this point you are legally committed to sell.
5. Completion: We receive the sale proceeds, redeem your existing mortgage and pay your estate agent’s fee, deduct our own costs, and send you the balance.

The new Property Information Forms

From 30 March 2026, updated 6th edition versions of the Property Information Form (TA6) and Leasehold Information Form (TA7) became mandatory for new transactions with CQS-accredited firms like ours. The new forms are more streamlined than the much-criticised 5th edition, and several sections, including council tax, asking price and EPC, have been removed to reduce duplication with your estate agent’s marketing material. See our article on the new Property Information Forms for the full detail.

It remains your responsibility, not your solicitor’s, to complete these forms accurately, since you have the best knowledge of the property. A buyer is entitled to rely on your answers, so it’s worth taking care over them even where a question feels routine.

Selling a leasehold property

If you are selling a leasehold flat, expect a little extra work: management company information, service charge accounts, ground rent details and, where relevant, building safety certificates all need to be obtained, sometimes from a third-party managing agent who can take time to respond. Building this into your expectations from the outset avoids surprises later. See our leasehold solicitors page for more detail.

Managing a chain

Most sellers are also buying, which means your sale sits inside a chain of linked transactions. We coordinate directly with the other solicitors involved to align exchange and completion dates wherever possible, and we will always tell you honestly where a chain looks fragile, rather than let you find out on the day.

From experience, the most common source of last-minute stress is a chain where one link is significantly slower than the rest, often because a mortgage offer is delayed or a buyer further along still has searches outstanding. Where we spot this early, we will tell you what it means realistically for your own timescale, rather than leave you guessing based on second-hand updates from the estate agent.

House sale solicitors in Reading and the Thames Valley

We act for sellers across Reading, Berkshire and the wider Thames Valley, as well as clients further afield across England and Wales, from our office at 1 London Street in central Reading. Appointments are available in person, by telephone and by video, whichever suits you best around work and family commitments.

Why choose FSP for selling a house

Our residential conveyancing team is accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), and the wider firm is top ranked in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. That combination of sector accreditation and firm-wide recognition means you get specialist knowledge backed by real depth.

• Led by genuine specialists: Kate Parry-Jones, Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing, has over 20 years’ experience across residential and commercial property, and acts for clients ranging from first-time buyers to high-net-worth individuals and companies.
• Quality assured: Lexcel accredited by the Law Society for excellence in legal practice management and client care, and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• Clear, upfront pricing: See our conveyancing pricing information and try conveyancing calculator to get a clear indication of costs before you instruct us.
• A full-service firm: Our conveyancing team works closely with our Wills, Tax and Trusts team, our family law team and our Real Estate team, so related matters are handled under one roof.

Ready to put your house on the market, or already have a buyer?

Instructing us early, even before you have a buyer, means the paperwork is ready to go the moment you do. Call us on 0118 951 6200, get in touch via our online enquiry form, or use our conveyancing calculator.